BY MIKE ECKERT
TRAVERSE CITY -- Late in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers at NHL Prospects Tournament at Centre ICE, Detroit defenseman Brian Lashoff showed off what he can do.
Lashoff stopped a shot on the team's empty net, skated down to the other end, got the puck back from his teammates and buried it in the back of the Rangers net.
"I think that's something I try to bring to the game," Lashoff said. "I try to contribute on both ends of the ice."
Not bad for the 19-year-old was passed over by every team in last year's NHL Draft.
"I think I've come a long way and developed a lot over the last year," Lashoff said. "Coming in as an undrafted free agent last year, I used the draft as motivation. That's helped me out."
After going undrafted in 2008, Lashoff was invited by the Red Wings last year to attend training camp. He excelled, earned a contract with the team and has quickly become part of the team's plans for the future.
"He's taken major steps," Detroit assistant GM Jim Nill said. "He's bigger and stronger and he's kind of got a presence on the ice.
"We think he's a big prospect for us. He takes charge on the ice and we're fortunate to have him signed."
Getting passed over in the draft has fueled Lashoff to continue to work.
"It definitely was a blow when it happened, but I took it as something that I'm going to use as a positive and improve myself and play with a chip on my shoulder," Lashoff said. "I couldn't have asked for a better organization. Detroit's really good with their players, so it worked out for me."
Lashoff spent last year in the OHL with Barrie and Kingston. He was called up to Grand Rapids for the final six games of the season and stuck around for the playoffs, where he had a goal and four assists.
The strong play continued this week in the Prospects Tournament as Lashoff finished with two goals and an assist in four games.
"I think it went pretty well," he said. "I tried to be consistent all tournament and help the team win. I think we would have liked to get a few more wins in the tournament, but it was a good experience for me and a good prep to get into mini-camp in the next few days."
Lashoff -- whose older brother Matt was Boston's No. 1 pick in 2005 and a current member of the Tampa Bay Lightning -- will now look to keep up the strong play in training camp with the rest of the Red Wings.
"It's a learning experience, but at the same time I want to show that I can play, and that I can play with the big boys," Lashoff said. "You're out there with guys like (Nicklas) Lidstrom, (Brian) Rafalski. It will be fun, but at the same time I've got to work hard."
Rafalski traveled a similar road to Lashoff by also going undrafted as a prospect.
"It's huge," Nill said. "You draft kids at 18 years of age. Some develop and get better, some don't. When you get drafted, it opens the door up, but you've still got to step through it. If you don't get drafted, don't worry about it. Work hard and you've still got a shot, as history has shown."
For Lashoff, there are still areas to improve.
"He's a strong skater and sees the ice well," Nill said. "He's got to get stronger. He's got good size, but leg strength -- he's got to get stronger. But that's going to come over time.
"When he played in Grand Rapids, he wasn't out of place. Strength wasn't an issue. He's just got to keep developing the way he is."
That will probably include returning to Kingston in the OHL, where he was named team captain in 2008.
"I'll probably be back in juniors," Lashoff said. "I'm going to try to have a really, really good year there and help the team win as much as possible and get deep into the playoffs. That will be a good spot for me because we've got a good team."
Prospects Tournament
Thursday's final scores at Centre ICE:
Championship Game
Carolina 4, Minnesota 0
Third-place Game
NY Rangers 5, St. Louis 4
Fifth-place Game
Detroit 4, Dallas 1
Seventh-place Game
Atlanta 5, Columbus 4 (SO)
Red Wings Training Camp (Sunday-Tuesday)
Sunday: Practice, scrimmage, 9 a.m.
Monday: Gold Medal Game, 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Red and White Game, 6 p.m.
